tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69395712015-03-29T11:24:54.854-07:00Deep ThoughtsSometimes I just have to speak my mindMojoeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541458916641472505noreply@blogger.comBlogger6285125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939571.post-78340974898862675372015-03-29T11:24:00.001-07:002015-03-29T11:24:54.884-07:00My body, here in your flesh<p>Oh Indiana, how big is your failure?</p><blockquote><p><i>Dear Christians In Indiana (and those elsewhere, who might read this),</i><br><br><i>I’ve seen what’s been going on there lately. Actually, I’ve been watching you all along and I really need to let you know something, just in case you misunderstand:</i><br><br><i>This isn’t what I had planned.</i><br><br><i>This wasn’t the Church I set the table for.</i><br><br><i>It wasn’t the dream I had for you, when I spoke in those parables about the Kingdom; about my Kingdom.</i><br><br><i>It was all supposed to be so very different.</i></p></blockquote><p><a data-mce-href="http://johnpavlovitz.com/2015/03/28/a-letter-to-christians-in-indiana-from-jesus/" href="http://johnpavlovitz.com/2015/03/28/a-letter-to-christians-in-indiana-from-jesus/">A letter to Christians in Indiana from Jesus</a>&nbsp;by John&nbsp;Pavlov&nbsp;<i><br></i></p><p>The good Christians I know, and there are a lot of them, are horrified at what is happening in Indiana. I ask that they speak out. Some do. Thanks John Pavlov.&nbsp;</p>Mojoeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541458916641472505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939571.post-88543981318006902552015-03-29T11:10:00.001-07:002015-03-29T11:10:18.006-07:00Ted Cruz as High Priest of America<p>There has always been an undercurrent to the Ted Cruz narrative that bothers me. I think it is my skepticism regarding religious men who mask their religiosity behind political rhetoric. Cruz does this well. I know Cruz is a religious man. His father is a pastor and often refers to his son in overtly religious terms. The most troubling is Ted Cruz as an <a data-mce-href="http://www.alternet.org/speakeasy/brucewilson/ted-cruzs-father-suggested-his-son-anointed-bring-about-end-time-transfer" href="http://www.alternet.org/speakeasy/brucewilson/ted-cruzs-father-suggested-his-son-anointed-bring-about-end-time-transfer">anointed</a> end times leader, who will transfer wealth to the righteous (<a data-mce-href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNa5w9js48s" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNa5w9js48s">Video</a>). America does not need an apocalyptic end times religious fanatic in a position of power. We can already see the results of allowing him in the Senate.&nbsp;</p><p>Cruz is a man on a mission from God, and not in a Blues Brothers kind of way. He means to push his agenda down our (and I mean everyone here) throats. We should fear him and fight him and his cause at every opportunity.&nbsp;</p><p>Jarret Ruminski <a data-mce-href="http://www.salon.com/2015/03/28/ted_cruzs_religious_horror_why_hes_really_running_for_high_priest_of_america/?utm_content=bufferf88e2&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=facebook.com&amp;utm_campaign=buffer" href="http://www.salon.com/2015/03/28/ted_cruzs_religious_horror_why_hes_really_running_for_high_priest_of_america/?utm_content=bufferf88e2&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=facebook.com&amp;utm_campaign=buffer">wrote on this in Salon</a>.&nbsp;</p><blockquote><p><i>Cruz’s White House run is disturbing, and not just because it involves Ted Cruz. Rather, he embodies the modern conservative propensity toward a fundamentalist American civil religion and its attendant, overly simplistic myths.</i></p></blockquote><p>Part of the fight involves an uncomfortable narrative. America is not the shiny city on a hill. We are a powerful nation for sure, but in may respects, we are a nation in trouble. We don’t live as long as other developed nations, we kill each other with abandon, we imprison way to many people, our education system is in trouble&nbsp;so&nbsp;our kids will find it hard to compete, plus,&nbsp;we live with a declining manufacturing base, which kills our middle class and pushes people into long-term service sector jobs. There is nothing moral about America. Moral nations are a myth. Cruz would feed us the theory of&nbsp;<a data-mce-href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_exceptionalism" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_exceptionalism">American exceptionalism</a>&nbsp;as if it were inscribed in the bible by the hand of God. It is the path to ruin.&nbsp;</p><p><br data-mce-bogus="1"></p><p><br data-mce-bogus="1"></p>Mojoeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541458916641472505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939571.post-24731926799571128782015-03-28T16:04:00.001-07:002015-03-28T16:04:14.620-07:00Girl Crush and homophobic Christians<p><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zmkRcw4vNvU" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0"></iframe></p><p>I’m not a country music fan, but I can see why people would like Girl Crush by Little Big Town. Apparently the song, which is not gay themed, confuses Christian country music fans and the complained about it promoting the gay agenda. As a result of the pressure, country music stations are <a href="http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/03/27/country-music-is-so-homophobic-that-stations-banned-a-song-that-just-kinda-sorta-seems-gay-video/">pulling it from rotation</a>. </p><p>I feel sorry for America. We deserve better. </p>Mojoeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541458916641472505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939571.post-66544420991303759412015-03-27T20:30:00.001-07:002015-03-27T20:30:21.847-07:00Hypocrisy and Ted Cruz<blockquote><p><i>"You are what you do, not what you say you'll do."</i> - Carl Jung</p></blockquote><p>Ted Cruz says he will end Obamacare.&nbsp;</p><p>Ted Cruz <a data-mce-href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/24/politics/ted-cruz-obamacare/" href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/24/politics/ted-cruz-obamacare/">joins Obamacare</a>.&nbsp;</p><p>I don’t think I need to say another word.&nbsp;</p>Mojoeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541458916641472505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939571.post-51312309090017691752015-03-24T20:11:00.001-07:002015-03-24T20:11:36.232-07:00I'm not a victim Phil Robertson<p><span><br data-mce-bogus="1"></span></p><p><span>In Phil Robertson</span>’s twisted&nbsp;mind, the only way one&nbsp;can be good is if one&nbsp;follows his faith and his interpretation of its&nbsp;dictates. As atheists, we are assumed to be without morals. We all know this is crazy. But he says it while&nbsp;<a data-mce-href="http://“I’ll%20make a bet with you,” Robertson said. “Two guys break into an atheist’s home. He has a little atheist wife and two little atheist daughters. Two guys break into his home and tie him up in a chair and gag him. And then they take his two daughters in front of him and rape both of them and then shoot them and they take his wife and then decapitate her head off in front of him. And then they can look at him and say, ‘Isn’t it great that I don’t have to worry about being judged? Isn’t it great that there’s nothing wrong with this? There’s no right or wrong, now is it dude?’” - See more at: http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/phil-robertson-hypothesizes-about-atheist-family-getting-raped-and-killed#sthash.IfbLtNt4.dpuf" href="http://“I’ll%20make a bet with you,” Robertson said. “Two guys break into an atheist’s home. He has a little atheist wife and two little atheist daughters. Two guys break into his home and tie him up in a chair and gag him. And then they take his two daughters in front of him and rape both of them and then shoot them and they take his wife and then decapitate her head off in front of him. And then they can look at him and say, ‘Isn’t it great that I don’t have to worry about being judged? Isn’t it great that there’s nothing wrong with this? There’s no right or wrong, now is it dude?’” - See more at: http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/phil-robertson-hypothesizes-about-atheist-family-getting-raped-and-killed#sthash.IfbLtNt4.dpuf">pandering to a bunch of Christians</a>, and they lap it up.&nbsp;</p><blockquote><p><i>“I’ll make a bet with you,” Robertson said. “Two guys break into an atheist’s home. He has a little atheist wife and two little atheist daughters. Two guys break into his home and tie him up in a chair and gag him. And then they take his two daughters in front of him and rape both of them and then shoot them and they take his wife and then decapitate her head off in front of him. And then they can look at him and say, ‘Isn’t it great that I don’t have to worry about being judged? Isn’t it great that there’s nothing wrong with this? There’s no right or wrong, now is it dude?’”</i></p></blockquote><p><span>I</span>’m no victim Phil. Your fantasy actors would find a big scary&nbsp;man ready to give as good as he gets. And, I’d have no trouble judging your behavior and heart. In fact, I can do it now. Your heart is black. Your behavior is reprehensible and counter to the message of Christ.&nbsp;</p><p><b>Source:</b> <a data-mce-href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/phil-robertson-hypothesizes-about-atheist-family-getting-raped-and-killed" href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/phil-robertson-hypothesizes-about-atheist-family-getting-raped-and-killed">Right Wing Watch</a>.&nbsp;</p>Mojoeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541458916641472505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939571.post-34249623767957746302015-03-23T20:27:00.001-07:002015-03-23T20:27:49.866-07:00Worst Ted Talk Ever<p>I wish I had thought of the line, “Worst Ted Talk Ever!” The credit goes to <a data-mce-href="http://www.dailydot.com/politics/ted-cruz-liberty-university-yik-yak/" href="http://www.dailydot.com/politics/ted-cruz-liberty-university-yik-yak/">Liberty University student </a>who like every other student&nbsp;in the audience <a data-mce-href="http://crooksandliars.com/2015/03/liberty-students-forced-attend-ted-cruz" href="http://crooksandliars.com/2015/03/liberty-students-forced-attend-ted-cruz">was forced to attend</a> Ted Cruz’s speech. My original title was more direct, “First fucker in the Republican short bus.” I liked it.&nbsp;</p><p><span>The&nbsp;twitter&nbsp;hashtag&nbsp;#TedCruzCampaignSlogans is hilarious and spot on.&nbsp;</span><br></p><blockquote><p><i>My dad's Cuban, I'm Canadian, Vote For Me Because Jesus.</i></p><p><i>I'm Marginally Smarter Than Rick Perry</i></p><p><i>Winter proves there is no global warming</i></p></blockquote><p><span><span>I call him the <a data-mce-href="https://votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/135705/ted-cruz#.VRDUmpPF8y8" href="https://votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/135705/ted-cruz#.VRDUmpPF8y8">Do Nothing Senator from Baptististan</a>. The man is unelectable and a fool to boot. He gets his name in print today&nbsp;because he fears becoming&nbsp;irrelevant. He wants attention. He craves the spotlight. He is not the best&nbsp;that the&nbsp;Republicans have to offer. Almost anyone, except Scott Walker, is a better choice. His&nbsp;</span></span>speech was… <a data-mce-href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0N9H1SHL6Pg" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0N9H1SHL6Pg">forgettable</a>. </p><blockquote><p><i>Imagine in 2017 a new president signing legislation repealing every line of Obama Care. -Ted Cruz 23 Mar 2015.</i></p></blockquote><p>Why would anyone want to do this? My politics tell me that the free market should dictate access to medical care, but reality tells me the free market cannot be trusted to care from my 80 year-old mother, or yours. Figure out how to make it work rather than tearing it apart.&nbsp;</p><p>For a presidential candidate, Ted Cruz shows little understanding of politics. Tell people you will take their medical care away and they will show you the door. It’s that simple. Ted Cruz has no chance.&nbsp;</p><p>On the other hand, he may offer comic relief.&nbsp;</p>Mojoeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541458916641472505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939571.post-5334241429688830792015-03-08T09:26:00.001-07:002015-03-08T09:26:16.597-07:00Religion on a flight to Dallas<div>She read a passage from the New Testament to me before we took off. &nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-6fsVWZE6wls/VPx4J7zGYmI/AAAAAAABC24/ccE-iq_sMmw/s640/blogger-image-28423691.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-6fsVWZE6wls/VPx4J7zGYmI/AAAAAAABC24/ccE-iq_sMmw/s640/blogger-image-28423691.jpg"></a></div>Mojoeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541458916641472505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939571.post-34604410663470357752015-03-08T08:47:00.001-07:002015-03-08T08:47:24.789-07:00A Texas social experiment<p>I conducted a small social experiment&nbsp;while visiting Ft. Worth last week. I took note of how many people mentioned religion to me in some way. By my count, I spoke to 33 people while in Texas. I’ve excluded store clerks and such, although two clerks talked about their faith in a small way. Of the 33 people I spoke with, 24 spoke about religion, church or my preferences for attending church. None asked if I were a believer, I think the default position is an assumption of belief.&nbsp;</p><p>I should qualify that I was in town for a funeral and that the majority of people I spoke with were also in town for the same event, so religion was bound to come up.&nbsp;</p><p>I should also say that I only told one person that I was an atheist. He was the pastor at my father’s funeral service and appeared to be a decent fellow too. He asked if I was a pastor because of how well I spoke at the service.&nbsp;</p><p>The odd stuff first…</p><p>While checking in at my hotel I was asked if I would like directions to the local churches. I declined, but was told that a local baptist church had an outreach ministry focused on truckers that I might find uplifting.&nbsp;</p><p>While sitting alone in a Starbucks in Fossil, I made eye contact with two women and smiled. The contact was incidental, but they took it as an invitation to join me. We talked for perhaps three minutes about the weather and about the reason I was visiting before they asked if I needed to talk to a pastor. I thought the offer was kind. They gave me a number to call and invited me to a church service on Sunday if I were still in town.</p><p>While having dinner on my first night in town I was asked to join a family in prayer over their meal. I was alone and they were the only other people eating at&nbsp;the Texas Roadhouse. Our food came out at the same time. I already had a spoonful of chili in my mouth when&nbsp;I declined. They were friendly folks. We talked some during the meal and they eventually invited me to church if I were still in town over the weekend.&nbsp;</p><p>The not so odd stuff</p><p>In some way, in almost every conversation, the subject of attending church came up. Be it the person who talked about last Sunday’s sermon, or the person&nbsp;referring to her disappointment at not being able to connect with a local church because of illness. Talk of church, not religion mind you, but the social institutions&nbsp;surrounding church, filled every conversation.&nbsp;</p><p style="text-indent: 30px;" data-mce-style="text-indent: 30px;">I had a short but uplifting conversation with a Jehovah Witness about child sexual abuse in her religion. She openly acknowledged the problem and talked about what her church was doing to combat the problem. The conversation caught the ear of a few baptists who where happy to add that their churches did not have the problem. I did not offer an opinion.&nbsp;</p><p>I spoke with several people who were attempting to put their lives back together in some small way through the social services offered by their churches. I was surprised by how freely people offered to talk about problems and by how they looked to a church as their way out. It could be the funeral talking though. People loosen up at these things. I think its part of the healing process.</p><p>I was not asked if I were a Christian. I think it was assumed. When the pastor asked me if I was&nbsp;a pastor, he accepted my atheism&nbsp;without comment. I think he was performing a function and would not move off his script for any reason. He was there to offer comfort, which he did well.&nbsp;</p><p>Religion seems woven into the fabric of the community. The assumption is belief. For example, the local news offered school and church closure information because of a winter storm. The local radio station talked about mid-week church services and prisoner outreach programs. Church signs were full of uplifting messages and schedules for upcoming events.&nbsp;</p><p>So many churches…</p><p>I also wanted to comment on the number of churches and the number of church run&nbsp;schools. They are everywhere and they are huge, but then, I must have passed four Hooters on the way to Ft. Worth from the airport…</p>Mojoeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541458916641472505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939571.post-51031943339567143442015-02-10T20:40:00.001-08:002015-02-10T20:40:32.950-08:00Gifts from god for Feb 10, 2015<p>I do not go a day without witnessing the love of god in action among his followers. Here are a few examples.&nbsp;</p><ul><li>Alabaman judge <a data-mce-href="http://www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/02/roy_moore_predicts_fathers_mar.html" href="http://www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/02/roy_moore_predicts_fathers_mar.html">Roy Moore predicts fathers marrying daughters…</a> because he’s a religious nutball and does not understand love.<br data-mce-bogus="1"></li><li><a data-mce-href="http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/01/31/american-pastor-christian-children-should-be-taught-to-be-extremists-like-hitler-youth-isis/" href="http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/01/31/american-pastor-christian-children-should-be-taught-to-be-extremists-like-hitler-youth-isis/">American Pastor: Christian Children Should Be Taught To Be ‘Extremists’ Like Hitler Youth, ISIS.</a> We need more Nazi youth. Really, it’s all about god’s love and Jebus and stuff. Just go along with it.&nbsp;<br data-mce-bogus="1"></li><li><a data-mce-href="http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/02/10/god-hates-fgs-lesbian-brutally-attacked-choked-with-dog-leash-video/" href="http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/02/10/god-hates-fgs-lesbian-brutally-attacked-choked-with-dog-leash-video/">Lesbian Brutally Attacked, Choked With Dog Leash</a>… Because god hates fags… That’s in the&nbsp;bible right?<br data-mce-bogus="1"></li><li><a data-mce-href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2015/02/10/female-saudi-tv-host-laughs-in-male-guests-face-when-he-proposes-a-bizarre-solution-for-the-driving-ban/" href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2015/02/10/female-saudi-tv-host-laughs-in-male-guests-face-when-he-proposes-a-bizarre-solution-for-the-driving-ban/">Female Saudi TV Host Laughs In Male Guest’s Face When He Proposes a Bizarre Solution For the Driving Ban…</a> Everyone knows that women cannot drive and love to be sexually assaulted. It makes perfect sense now… all hail the hypnotoad.&nbsp;</li><li><a data-mce-href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/chi-prison-religion-satanists-jehovahs-witness-20150209-story.html#page=1" href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/chi-prison-religion-satanists-jehovahs-witness-20150209-story.html#page=1">How fringe religions find followers behind bars…</a>&nbsp;Religion is unethical? Say it ain’t so.&nbsp;<br data-mce-bogus="1"></li><li><a data-mce-href="http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_27494158/bill-let-college-clubs-pick-leaders-religion-fails" href="http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_27494158/bill-let-college-clubs-pick-leaders-religion-fails">Bill to let college clubs pick leaders’ religion fails…</a> First you control the leaders and then the followers.<br data-mce-bogus="1"></li><li><a data-mce-href="http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2015/02/fox-news-guest-obamas-religion-speech-was-verbal-rape/" href="http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2015/02/fox-news-guest-obamas-religion-speech-was-verbal-rape/">Fox News guest: Obama’s religion speech was ‘verbal rape’ on Christians…</a>&nbsp;What is verbal rape anyway? Saying something that others don’t believe but is true nonetheless?<br data-mce-bogus="1"></li><li><a data-mce-href="http://www.salon.com/2012/03/15/homeschooled_and_illiterate/?utm_source=facebook&amp;utm_medium=socialflow" href="http://www.salon.com/2012/03/15/homeschooled_and_illiterate/?utm_source=facebook&amp;utm_medium=socialflow">Home-schooled and illiterate…</a> Reading interferes with baby making.&nbsp;<br data-mce-bogus="1"></li><li><a data-mce-href="http://wivb.com/2015/01/26/pastor-accused-of-sex-abuse-found-guilty/" href="http://wivb.com/2015/01/26/pastor-accused-of-sex-abuse-found-guilty/">Pastor convicted for molesting grandchildren…</a>&nbsp;Where does it say that pastors should molest children in the bible? If it’s not in the bible, then why do they keep doing it?</li></ul><p>More to follow.&nbsp;</p>Mojoeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541458916641472505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939571.post-78521661962828551872015-02-08T21:14:00.001-08:002015-02-08T21:15:47.703-08:00Gifts from god for Feb 8, 2015Gifts from god Feb 8, 2015<br /><ul><li><a data-mce-href="http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/231787-republican-avoids-apocalyptic-666" href="http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/231787-republican-avoids-apocalyptic-666">Republican avoids apocalyptic 666</a>. Enough with&nbsp;the superstition already, this is&nbsp;embarrassing. via <a data-mce-href="http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/week-god-2715?cid=sm_fb_maddow" href="http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/week-god-2715?cid=sm_fb_maddow">This Week in God, 2.7.15</a>.</li><li><a data-mce-href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/janet-mefferd-suggests-christians-should-stop-attending-national-prayer-breakfast-because-it?fb_action_ids=10155197178240472&amp;fb_action_types=og.likes" href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/janet-mefferd-suggests-christians-should-stop-attending-national-prayer-breakfast-because-it?fb_action_ids=10155197178240472&amp;fb_action_types=og.likes">Janet Mefferd Slams Interfaith ‘Garbage’ At National Prayer Breakfast, Suggests Christians Stop Attending</a>&nbsp;There is only one true god.</li><li><a data-mce-href="http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2015/02/from-creationism-to-climate-denial-to-anti-vaxxers-why-the-right-questions-science/" href="http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2015/02/from-creationism-to-climate-denial-to-anti-vaxxers-why-the-right-questions-science/">From creationism to climate denial to anti-vaxxers: Why the right questions science…</a> Because Christians have the truth, everyone else is left with facts.</li><li><a data-mce-href="http://wonkette.com/575242/kansas-just-going-to-go-ahead-and-arrest-teachers-for-teaching-now" href="http://wonkette.com/575242/kansas-just-going-to-go-ahead-and-arrest-teachers-for-teaching-now">Kansas Just Going To Go Ahead And Arrest Teachers For Teaching Now</a>… Kansas is in the lead for the race to the bottom and the dark ages.</li><li><a data-mce-href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/02/05/1362537/-Oh-Sweet-Sweet-Irony-Walker-Lies-About-Deleting-Search-For-Truth-From-UW-Mission-Statement" href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/02/05/1362537/-Oh-Sweet-Sweet-Irony-Walker-Lies-About-Deleting-Search-For-Truth-From-UW-Mission-Statement">Oh Sweet Irony: Walker Caught Lying About Removing “Search For Truth” from UW Mission Statement</a>… Scott Walker, a Christian conservative, apparently lied. This should not be a surprise. My question is why remove the “Search For Truth” in the first place.&nbsp;</li><li><a data-mce-href="http://www.alternet.org/tea-party-and-right/inside-strange-paranoid-world-right-wing-oath-keepers#.VNZGAzi8Mdc.facebook" href="http://www.alternet.org/tea-party-and-right/inside-strange-paranoid-world-right-wing-oath-keepers#.VNZGAzi8Mdc.facebook">Inside the Strange, Paranoid World of the Right-Wing Oath Keepers</a>… and then there are nutballs.&nbsp;</li><li><a data-mce-href="https://richarddawkins.net/2015/02/on-bbc-tv-christian-says-humanists-are-debauched-and-their-weddings-are-demonic-then-throws-in-pol-pot/" href="https://richarddawkins.net/2015/02/on-bbc-tv-christian-says-humanists-are-debauched-and-their-weddings-are-demonic-then-throws-in-pol-pot/">On BBC TV, Christian Says Humanists Are Debauched and Their Weddings Are “Demonic,” Then Throws in… Pol Pot</a>… Humanists are evil; evil I tell you!</li><li><a data-mce-href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/thegodarticle/2015/02/prudish-christian-sexual-hang-ups-and-the-real-problem-with-50-shades-of-grey/" href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/thegodarticle/2015/02/prudish-christian-sexual-hang-ups-and-the-real-problem-with-50-shades-of-grey/">Prudish Christian Sexual Hang-ups and the Real Problem with “50 Shades of Grey”</a>… Sex, always a Christian hang up.</li><li><a data-mce-href="http://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/davidbadash/crusading_alabama_judge_takes_entire_county_out_of_the_marriage_licensing_business_altogether" href="http://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/davidbadash/crusading_alabama_judge_takes_entire_county_out_of_the_marriage_licensing_business_altogether">Crusading Alabama Judge Takes Entire County ‘Out Of Marriage Licensing Business Altogether’</a>… I see what you did there Christian activist Judge Wes Allen and it is morally repugnant.&nbsp;</li><li><a data-mce-href="http://thinkprogress.org/immigration/2015/02/03/3618647/mo-brooks-measles-immigrants/" href="http://thinkprogress.org/immigration/2015/02/03/3618647/mo-brooks-measles-immigrants/">Congressman: Measles Outbreak May Be Caused By ‘Illegal Aliens’</a>… Because, well… Alabama congressman Mo Brooks just makes shit up.&nbsp;</li><li><a data-mce-href="http://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/davidbadash/_private_school_principal_affirms_right_to_tell_students_being_gay_is_intrinsically_sinful" href="http://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/davidbadash/_private_school_principal_affirms_right_to_tell_students_being_gay_is_intrinsically_sinful">Christian High School Affirms Right To Tell Students Being Gay Is ‘Intrinsically Sinful’…</a>&nbsp;Gay is not the problem. Hate is the problem.</li><li><a data-mce-href="http://m.dailykos.com/story/2014/07/05/1311905/-GOP-Abstinence-Only-Rep-Cassidy-s-unwed-teen-daughter-is-pregnant-Can-he-work-AND-be-good-father" href="http://m.dailykos.com/story/2014/07/05/1311905/-GOP-Abstinence-Only-Rep-Cassidy-s-unwed-teen-daughter-is-pregnant-Can-he-work-AND-be-good-father">GOP "Abstinence Only" Rep Cassidy's unwed teen daughter is pregnant. Can he work AND be good father?</a>&nbsp;I think the question should be, can he be a good father. His “work” is bullshit.</li><li><a data-mce-href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/tens-of-thousands-of-muslims-flee-christian-militias-in-central-african-republic/2014/02/07/5a1adbb2-9032-11e3-84e1-27626c5ef5fb_story.html" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/tens-of-thousands-of-muslims-flee-christian-militias-in-central-african-republic/2014/02/07/5a1adbb2-9032-11e3-84e1-27626c5ef5fb_story.html">Tens of thousands of Muslims flee Christian militias in Central African Republic</a>… Where there is one true religion anarchy reigns.&nbsp;</li><li><a data-mce-href="http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2015/02/2_alabama_judges_refuse_to_per.html?hootPostID=d28c9afd58ecb4969e83f371bf0ec29d" href="http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2015/02/2_alabama_judges_refuse_to_per.html?hootPostID=d28c9afd58ecb4969e83f371bf0ec29d">4 Alabama judges refuse to perform same-sex weddings citing religious beliefs</a>… Alabama, Fuck the law.&nbsp;</li><li><a data-mce-href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2015/02/06/pastors-wife-a-homemaker-says-moms-who-work-are-blasphemers-and-sinners/" href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2015/02/06/pastors-wife-a-homemaker-says-moms-who-work-are-blasphemers-and-sinners/">Pastor’s Wife, a Homemaker, Says Moms Who Work Are Blasphemers and Sinners</a>… Because why?</li><li><a data-mce-href="http://www.ifyouonlynews.com/videos/daily-derp-fox-host-says-zero-people-killed-by-religions-other-than-islam/" href="http://www.ifyouonlynews.com/videos/daily-derp-fox-host-says-zero-people-killed-by-religions-other-than-islam/">FOX HOST SAYS ‘ZERO’ PEOPLE KILLED BY RELIGIONS OTHER THAN ISLAM…</a> Because Fox gets to make up reality and feed it back to sheepl.</li><li><a data-mce-href="http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/356047" href="http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/356047">Atheism a ‘suicide risk,’ US Marine Corps warns</a>… Because, we are all much better off as Christians.</li><li><a data-mce-href="http://samuel-warde.com/2015/02/ben-carson-designated-extremist-by-splc/" href="http://samuel-warde.com/2015/02/ben-carson-designated-extremist-by-splc/">Conservative Icon Dr. Ben Carson Designated An ‘Extremist’ By SPLC</a>… hate comes in all forms.</li><li><a data-mce-href="http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2015/02/good-samaritan-pastor-arrested-for-lying-to-police-about-being-shot-and-robbed-by-a-black-man/" href="http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2015/02/good-samaritan-pastor-arrested-for-lying-to-police-about-being-shot-and-robbed-by-a-black-man/">‘Good Samaritan’ pastor arrested for lying to police about being shot and robbed by a black man…</a> If a pastor talks, he’s lying.</li><li><a data-mce-href="http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/02/08/creationists-declare-unicorns-real-denial-is-to-demean-gods-word-videos/" href="http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/02/08/creationists-declare-unicorns-real-denial-is-to-demean-gods-word-videos/">Creationists Declare Unicorns Real, Denial ‘Is To Demean God’s Word’</a>… This does not help your cause.&nbsp;</li></ul>Mojoeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541458916641472505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939571.post-48323507103993980412015-02-06T21:33:00.001-08:002015-02-07T07:19:06.580-08:00Gifts from god for Feb 6, 2015There were so many gifts from god this week. I feel blessed to be an American.<br /><ul><li><a data-mce-href="http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2015/02/west-virginia-republican-says-rape-can-be-beautiful-if-it-produces-a-child/" href="http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2015/02/west-virginia-republican-says-rape-can-be-beautiful-if-it-produces-a-child/">West Virginia Republican says rape can be ‘beautiful’ if it produces a child…</a> because God.&nbsp;</li><li><a data-mce-href="http://www.thestar.com/news/crime/2015/02/05/via-rail-terror-suspects-views-a-complete-desecration-of-my-religion-trial-told.html" href="http://www.thestar.com/news/crime/2015/02/05/via-rail-terror-suspects-views-a-complete-desecration-of-my-religion-trial-told.html">Via Rail terror suspects’ views ‘a complete desecration of my religion,’ trial told</a>… Islam is not the problem. Don’t be hater.&nbsp;</li><li><a data-mce-href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2015/02/05/384087309/obama-condemns-horrific-acts-in-the-name-of-religion" href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2015/02/05/384087309/obama-condemns-horrific-acts-in-the-name-of-religion">Obama Condemns ‘Horrific Acts’ In The Name Of Religion</a>… Wait, Christians do horrible things too?&nbsp;</li><li><a data-mce-href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/05/obama-religious-freedom_n_6622006.html" href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/05/obama-religious-freedom_n_6622006.html">Obama Calls For Balancing Free Speech With Respect For Religion</a>… cause words hurt. No wait, that can’t be right.&nbsp;</li><li><a data-mce-href="http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/medical_examiner/2015/02/religious_exemption_for_vaccines_christian_scientists_catholics_and_dutch.html" href="http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/medical_examiner/2015/02/religious_exemption_for_vaccines_christian_scientists_catholics_and_dutch.html">Why Is There a Religious Exemption for Vaccinations?</a>&nbsp;So they can feel good about infecting our children.</li><li><a data-mce-href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/afro-brazilian-religions-struggle-against-evangelical-hostility/2015/02/05/b6a30c6e-aaf9-11e4-8876-460b1144cbc1_story.html" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/afro-brazilian-religions-struggle-against-evangelical-hostility/2015/02/05/b6a30c6e-aaf9-11e4-8876-460b1144cbc1_story.html">Afro-Brazilian religions struggle against Evangelical hostility…</a> There is only one true faith and it’s not yours.&nbsp;</li><li><a data-mce-href="http://www.kvue.com/story/news/local/2015/02/06/local-pastor-arrested-for-drunk-driving/22989181/" href="http://www.kvue.com/story/news/local/2015/02/06/local-pastor-arrested-for-drunk-driving/22989181/">Local pastor arrested for drunk driving…</a> you mean pastor Don Vanderslice is just a normal irresponsible drunk?</li><li><a data-mce-href="http://www.click2houston.com/news/sources-slain-pastors-son-taken-into-custody-in-mississippi/31089554" href="http://www.click2houston.com/news/sources-slain-pastors-son-taken-into-custody-in-mississippi/31089554">Slain priest’s son arrested in Mississippi, charged with murder</a>… The pastor and his wife were allegedly beaten with a bad, lamp and hammer… by their son.&nbsp;</li><li><a data-mce-href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/wwjtd/2015/02/religion-high-school-muslims-demand-a-teacher-be-fired-for-showing-charlie-hebdo-cartoons/" href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/wwjtd/2015/02/religion-high-school-muslims-demand-a-teacher-be-fired-for-showing-charlie-hebdo-cartoons/">Muslims demand a teacher be fired for showing Charlie Hebdo cartoons.</a>&nbsp;We live in the USA with freedom of speech and everything, right?</li><li><a data-mce-href="http://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/davidbadash/measles_outbreak_is_a_hoax_says_conspiracy_theorist_glenn_beck_video" href="http://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/davidbadash/measles_outbreak_is_a_hoax_says_conspiracy_theorist_glenn_beck_video">Measles Outbreak Is A ‘Hoax’ Says Conspiracy Theorist Glenn Beck</a>… A loon sent by god to fill people’s heads with nonsense.&nbsp;</li><li><a data-mce-href="http://www.alternet.org/belief/evangelists-plan-convert-atheist-computers-christianity" href="http://www.alternet.org/belief/evangelists-plan-convert-atheist-computers-christianity">Evangelists Plan to Convert Atheist Computers to Christianity</a>… because there are not homeless people to feed.</li><li><a data-mce-href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/republican-leaders-join-anti-gay-extremists-insane-documentary" href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/republican-leaders-join-anti-gay-extremists-insane-documentary">Republican Leaders Join Anti-Gay Extremists For Insane Documentary…</a>&nbsp;Because Christianity demands we hate the gays.&nbsp;</li><li><a data-mce-href="https://richarddawkins.net/2015/02/ken-ham-has-sued-kentucky-officials-because-he-doesnt-understand-how-the-law-works-2/" href="https://richarddawkins.net/2015/02/ken-ham-has-sued-kentucky-officials-because-he-doesnt-understand-how-the-law-works-2/">Ken Ham Has Sued Kentucky Officials Because He Doesn’t Understand How the Law Works</a>… God sends stupid people to build replica arks. Remember the homeless hungry masses Christians. Remember? You are supposed to do something about that.&nbsp;</li><li><a data-mce-href="http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/02/05/christian-dad-shoots-demon-possessed-mentally-ill-son-in-chest-he-better-call-on-the-lord-video/" href="http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/02/05/christian-dad-shoots-demon-possessed-mentally-ill-son-in-chest-he-better-call-on-the-lord-video/">‘Christian’ Dad Shoots ‘Demon-Possessed’ Mentally-Ill Son In Chest: ‘He Better Call On The Lord’</a>… If she’s a witch she will float.&nbsp;</li><li><a data-mce-href="http://www.kcentv.com/story/28043115/coryell-county-church-pastor-arrested-on-sexual-assault-of-a-child-charge" href="http://www.kcentv.com/story/28043115/coryell-county-church-pastor-arrested-on-sexual-assault-of-a-child-charge">Gatesville Youth Pastor Charged with Sexual Assault Asked for Forgiveness</a>… Because the way it works with God is that you ask forgiveness and all is forgiven. It’s a good deal for scoundrels. I guess pastor Will Jackson qualifies as a scoundrel.</li><li><a data-mce-href="http://www.pahomepage.com/story/d/story/ex-youth-pastor-arrested/19350/NQWt0_pQzEe1KvCEKzDruw" href="http://www.pahomepage.com/story/d/story/ex-youth-pastor-arrested/19350/NQWt0_pQzEe1KvCEKzDruw">Ex-Youth Pastor Arrested</a>… Adam D’Albero is only a “Ex” pastor because he alleged molested&nbsp;a 13-year-old girl.&nbsp;</li><li><a data-mce-href="http://www.indystar.com/story/news/fox59/2015/01/27/brownsburg-pastor-arrested-goodwill-theft/22389265/" href="http://www.indystar.com/story/news/fox59/2015/01/27/brownsburg-pastor-arrested-goodwill-theft/22389265/">Browns burg pastor arrested in Goodwill theft</a>… Wait. Pastors steal? Shame on you Pastor Denis Roy.</li><li><a data-mce-href="http://www.medicaldaily.com/pulse/val-kilmers-family-says-christian-science-hurting-his-health-discourages-treatment-320700" href="http://www.medicaldaily.com/pulse/val-kilmers-family-says-christian-science-hurting-his-health-discourages-treatment-320700">Val Kilmer’s Family Says Christian Science Is Hurting His Health, Discourages Treatment…</a> I think we all know how this will end.&nbsp;</li><li><a data-mce-href="http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/01/05/pat-robertson-says-non-religious-children-should-be-beaten-until-they-respect-christian-beliefs-video/" href="http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/01/05/pat-robertson-says-non-religious-children-should-be-beaten-until-they-respect-christian-beliefs-video/">Pat Robertson Says Non-Religious Children Should Be Beaten Until They Respect Christian Beliefs</a>… I’m sure the bible says this someplace. This old coot would not just pull this out of his ass would he?</li><li><a data-mce-href="http://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/uncucumbered/texas_fourth_grader_suspended_for_threatening_to_use_magic" href="http://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/uncucumbered/texas_fourth_grader_suspended_for_threatening_to_use_magic">Texas Fourth Grader Suspended For Threatening To Use Magic…</a> Because God + Texas = Stupid.&nbsp;</li></ul>I could go on for days.Mojoeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541458916641472505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939571.post-81254946403522611972015-01-18T10:44:00.001-08:002015-01-19T13:43:23.813-08:00The hypocrisy of Dianne FeinsteinHypocrisy comes in many forms, be it the hypocrisy of the <a href="http://countercurrentnews.com/2015/01/cop-fired-uncovered-police-policy/" target="_blank">police screwing prostitutes</a>, <a href="http://www.news4jax.com/news/pastor-arrested-on-decadesold-sexual-battery-case/30763470" target="_blank">pastors screwing children</a> or even politicians screwing the public. Religious types are constantly pointing out that I only highlight religious hypocrisy, and its true. I find religious hypocrisy to be&nbsp;the worst of the worst. But,&nbsp;some of the things our elected representatives do are every bit as bad as pastors who violate our trust. Like Dianne Feinstein and her husband Richard Blum who stands to earn <a data-mce-href="http://pagesix.com/2015/01/16/senators-husband-stands-to-profit-from-government-deal/?_ga=1.137700920.922370688.1421462337" href="http://pagesix.com/2015/01/16/senators-husband-stands-to-profit-from-government-deal/?_ga=1.137700920.922370688.1421462337">$1 billion dollars from feeding at the public trough</a>. <br><blockquote><i>The US Postal Service plans to sell 56 buildings — so it can lease space more expensively — and the real estate company of the California senator’s husband, Richard Blum, is set to pocket about $1 billion in commissions.</i></blockquote><div data-mce-style="text-indent: 30px;">$1 billion dollars… Just think about that Democrats. Feinstein does not represent your interests. She represents her own. She’s a billionaire after serving in public office. She’s played us all and we let it happen.</div>Mojoeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541458916641472505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939571.post-57667213491126640502015-01-14T21:01:00.001-08:002015-01-18T10:47:30.365-08:00Pet PeevesPet peeves… we all have one. This is one of mine, unattributed source information, like this one found in a <a data-mce-href="http://time.com/3664401/hebdo-religious-blinders/" href="http://time.com/3664401/hebdo-religious-blinders/">Time article.&nbsp;</a><br /><blockquote><i>Religious men, even ones who regularly read about deities sanctioning violence in their holy books, don’t usually feel the license to kill, of course. In fact, you might expect the opposite. After all, religious people are more likely to do good than other people. They volunteer and donate blood more often than non-believers. They give more money to charity. In most psychology experiments <b>they are more generous and less dishonest than atheists, and in the real world</b>, they commit fewer crimes and abuse illegal subtances less, too. In fact, in the majority of the 39 countries polled by a 2014 Pew study, people say that a belief in God is required to be a moral person. That opinion was most common in poor regions such as Central Asia, and West Africa. But 53 percent of Americans also agree that religious belief makes you more ethical.</i></blockquote>Really? Religious men who regularly read about deities sanctioning violence are more generous and less dishonest than atheists. What the fuck? What study says that? None of this is true.Mojoeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541458916641472505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939571.post-65730660569795112332015-01-13T19:42:00.001-08:002015-01-13T19:44:22.883-08:00Life lessons from a racistWhen I was teen in the early 70s, I learned valuable life lessons&nbsp;from my grandfather. One day he showed me his <a data-mce-href="http://www.snapon.com/tool-storage/kra-tool-storage.asp" href="http://www.snapon.com/tool-storage/kra-tool-storage.asp">Snap-on toolbox</a>&nbsp;while I was spending time with him at his garage&nbsp;in Compton. He pulled out an odd looking wrench and told me that because&nbsp;he had learned how to use this new&nbsp;tool, he was&nbsp;able to take his wife, my grandma, to a fancy dinner once a month. I do not remember what he paid for the tool, but it was dear; all Snap-on tools are. He also paid for a training course and spent his free time practiced on his own cars. He was smart about business and converted&nbsp;a service that he outsourced&nbsp;to other mechanics, back in&nbsp;house.<br /><br />He showed me other tools too, each with its own story and each offering a new service that helped put food on his&nbsp;table. He explained that I should get my own tool box and learn how&nbsp;to use the tools so that I too could take care of myself, and eventually, take care of&nbsp;my own family. I did not realize he was speaking metaphorically until much later. I have a large metaphorical toolbox these days and I use it all the time.<br /><br />He gave me once more piece of advice, <i>“Lock your tool box. You never know when those sneaky coloreds will come around and steal you blind.”</i>&nbsp;I can still hear&nbsp;his voice in my head.<br /><br />I knew then that he was a racist. So was my grandmother and virtually evey other adult in my life at that time. I would go my&nbsp;own way eventually. I left behind the racist parts of my grandfather and family, and embraced a life rich with many people, experiences and cultures. I bring this up now because I just read a story about a man and his ideas, which are mostly good, but he’s under&nbsp;attacked for comments he made that offended others. It turns out the man is a bit of chauvinist. My problem, as with all things these days, is that I do not see the problem with a chauvinist/racist/misogynist&nbsp;as an&nbsp;all or nothing game. Just because a man&nbsp;(or woman)&nbsp;holds an opinion or an attitude which&nbsp;are&nbsp;at odds with my own, does not mean I reject all of his ideas out of hand. Ideas stand on their own merit. I do not understand those who&nbsp;reject the whole over a part that is rotten, or use the rotten to justify killing the whole.<br /><br />I eventually confronted my grandfather over his racism. It was&nbsp;hard, but he&nbsp;eventually softened. He had to. His exposure to better ideas&nbsp;left few&nbsp;other options.Mojoeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541458916641472505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939571.post-79971033509812475212015-01-11T09:35:00.001-08:002015-01-11T09:36:06.294-08:00Managing atheists on FacebookIt’s a Sunday morning here LA. It is cold for LA&nbsp;and raining too, so I’m reading Facebook and the news. I have some thoughts on Facebook because of a Mashable article, <a data-mce-href="http://mashable.com/2015/01/10/facebook-news-feed-tips/" href="http://mashable.com/2015/01/10/facebook-news-feed-tips/">5 ways to take control of your Facebook News Feed</a>.<br /><br />As a general rule,&nbsp;I&nbsp;keep a wide array of Facebook friends from within all aspects of the atheist community. I rarely unfollow, although I do so if the atheist in question is stupid. I don’t have time in my life for stupid. I don’t think many&nbsp;of us do. I also unfollow those who <a data-mce-href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=e-begging" href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=e-begging">e-beg</a>, be it people who dream of being Youtube barons or those who&nbsp;simply cannot pay the rent. My reasons are simple, in the case of the wannabe&nbsp;Youtube&nbsp;barons, I think it helps develop the equivalent of an atheist version of professional clergy. I’m not a fan of being an atheist first and then something else. I prefer the title of writer, photographer or project manager who happens to be an atheist. In the case of those who e-beg because they cannot pay the rent, I have no way of determining if their needs are real, so I prefer not to participate.<br /><br />In some cases I unfollow Facebook friends. It usually starts with the words “Trigger Warning” and is followed by some obviously controversial topic meant to incite an argument simply for the sake of arguing and… weeding out the ideologically impure. I unfollow because I don’t want to read it, nor do I want to be sucked into the stupidity of publicly vilifying a fellow atheist over his or her position on a controversial issue.<br /><br />I don’t think the atheist community on Facebook is a good place to hang out, so I rarely do. It beats <a data-mce-href="http://www.reddit.com/r/atheism/" href="http://www.reddit.com/r/atheism/">Reddit</a> though…<br /><br data-mce-bogus="1" /><br data-mce-bogus="1" />Mojoeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541458916641472505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939571.post-10110690362364884592015-01-10T17:03:00.001-08:002015-01-10T21:16:57.927-08:00I did not realize Atheist TV was still a thingI took a break from blogging for about six months. I’m back at it now, but in a less intensive way. In the time I was gone, I kept up on things happening in the movement via reading. I was surprised today when I was reminded of <a data-mce-href="http://atheists.org/atheistTV/" href="http://atheists.org/atheistTV/">AtheistTV</a>.&nbsp;I did not realize it was still a thing. I had not seen anything&nbsp;about in the media for at least six months. I thought it came and went like all bad ideas do. But no… it’s still around and still playing re-runs of cable access TV shows.<br /><br />When I first watched the channel&nbsp;back in <a data-mce-href="http://mojoey.blogspot.com/2014/08/atheist-tv-is-premature-concept.html" href="http://mojoey.blogspot.com/2014/08/atheist-tv-is-premature-concept.html">August of 2014</a>, I thought it was a premature concept. It’s still premature, but now we can also add stale. Why are the slotting low-quality video programs? I like the podcast version of the Atheist Experience well enough, it’s a good way to waste an hour while commuting around LA, but who wants to watch two talking heads while they chat up a caller? Why must I watch a show I can get via Youtube or a podcast? Why is there no new content? Why is there no original content? Why would people sit in front of their PCs to watch this via a <a data-mce-href="http://atheists.org/atheistTV/schedule" href="http://atheists.org/atheistTV/schedule">published schedule</a> when the content is available on demand via Youtube and other services? &nbsp;It makes no sense.<br /><br />When I tuned in today, I was struck by the thought that I may have&nbsp;watched the same Atheist Experience that last time I watched I fired up the show. I don’t think AtheistTV is a thing. I think it might have died in birth.<br /><br data-mce-bogus="1" />Mojoeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541458916641472505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939571.post-37725928875717421532015-01-10T11:51:00.001-08:002015-01-10T11:52:58.963-08:00Center Punching for ChristCenter punching children for Christ: Because that’s how Jesus does it!<br /><img class="center" data-mce-style="display: block; float: none; margin: 5px auto;" data-position="1" height="199" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-a3Y3IqZCKmc/VLGCzxEcozI/AAAAAAABCxg/3H2SlGKw1No/I/3DCFFD63-140C-4EE0-AA8D-49C70B2BD651.png" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 5px auto; max-height: none; max-width: 100%;" width="300" /><br />I found this on <a data-mce-href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2015/01/10/pastor-brags-about-punching-a-bright-kid-in-the-chest-because-he-didnt-take-the-lord-seriously/" href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2015/01/10/pastor-brags-about-punching-a-bright-kid-in-the-chest-because-he-didnt-take-the-lord-seriously/">Hemant Mehta on the Friendly Atheist</a>.<br /><br data-mce-bogus="1" /><br /><div class="image-size mceNonEditable" contenteditable="false" data-mce-bogus="true" data-size="300x199" id="plate" style="-webkit-transform: translateZ(0); display: none; left: 218px; top: 62px;"></div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Q19qRUBj-ic" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Mojoeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541458916641472505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939571.post-1116745253343326032015-01-10T06:30:00.001-08:002015-01-10T06:34:59.038-08:00$10.5 Million JW sex abuse lawsuitClergy sexual abuse in the Jehovah’s Witness church rarely make it to the press, in my opinion it is because of the insular nature of the religion. The organization is closed to outsiders, operates in secret, and pressures members to remain silent. A new lawsuit hopes to pull back the curtain on secrecy and expose the hypocrites. The Oregonian reports that a $10.5 Million against Jehovah’s Witnesses Organizations claim that leadership&nbsp;hid decades of child sexual abuse.&nbsp; <br /><blockquote><div data-mce-style="text-indent: 30px;"><i>Two people who say that as children they were sexually abused by a leader in a Hillsboro Jehovah’s Witnesses congregation filed a $10.5 million lawsuit Monday – among the first in Oregon to accuse the religious organization of hiding decades of sexual abuse.</i><br /><br /><i>Attorneys for Velicia Alston, 39, and an unnamed man said the Jehovah’s Witnesses leadership continues to cover up sexual abuse against children by leaders. They say it is more than a decade behind other organizations, such as the Catholic Church, that have been forced to address their problems through many years of civil litigation.</i></div><div data-mce-style="text-indent: 30px;"><b>Source:</b> <a data-mce-href="http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2014/12/jehovahs_witnesses_under_fire.html?utm_content=buffer83b73&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=facebook.com&amp;utm_campaign=buffer" href="http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2014/12/jehovahs_witnesses_under_fire.html?utm_content=buffer83b73&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=facebook.com&amp;utm_campaign=buffer">Jehovah’s Witnesses under fire from former congregants who say child sex abuse was hushed</a>, by Aimee Green.&nbsp;</div></blockquote><div data-mce-style="text-indent: 30px;"><br data-mce-bogus="1" /></div><div data-mce-style="text-indent: 30px;">I look for <a data-mce-href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Failure_causes" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Failure_causes">failure modes</a>&nbsp;in stories like this. Secrecy is one of the primary&nbsp;failure modes in this story. When leaders act for the “good of the church” and hide the stories and the abusers, it allows abuse to flourish. Transparency, as disruptive and damaging as it can&nbsp;be, allows people and organizations to start healing and also builds awareness of the problem. JW’s of the world should demand transparency.&nbsp;</div>Mojoeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541458916641472505noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939571.post-31192062879552378982015-01-07T22:19:00.001-08:002015-01-10T06:33:54.912-08:00NPR's take on faith and David PetersI listened to NPR’s Story of the Day podcast this morning on my drive to work. It&nbsp;described an former Army Chaplain David Peters <a data-mce-href="http://www.npr.org/2015/01/06/375387392/an-army-chaplain-first-tested-by-war-finds-his-faith-renewed" href="http://www.npr.org/2015/01/06/375387392/an-army-chaplain-first-tested-by-war-finds-his-faith-renewed">test of faith</a>. It was a fascinating story, and one I’ve heard many times before. I’d like to sit down and talk to him&nbsp;one day.<br /><blockquote><i>"The church was asking me to confess&nbsp;my&nbsp;sins, when I felt like God had done far worse things than I've ever done," he says. Like "standing by and not really doing much for the world that's full of war and conflict and despair, loss.</i>&nbsp;</blockquote><blockquote><i>"I looked at my own life and I felt that way. I'd just gotten divorced. I was just really angry at God for disappearing on me when I needed him most."</i></blockquote>This is a common story I hear from former Christians who have lost their faith. Where is God? Why is he hiding? It resonated with me. Where is God in this mess of a world? Anyone?<br /><br />What bothers&nbsp;me is that his original church, a fundamentalist Bible Fellowship Church, would not allow for a divorced pastor. Peters had to leave the church. They had endorsed him for service as a Army chaplain, but when he returned&nbsp;damaged by the experience and in need of love, his religion, in the form of his church, abandoned him. That’s when you know faith is screwed up. Believers&nbsp;acting in accord with doctrine, it damages so many people.<br /><br data-mce-bogus="1" />David Peters wrote a book: <a data-mce-href="http://www.npr.org/books/titles/375432120/death-letter-god-sex-and-war" href="http://www.npr.org/books/titles/375432120/death-letter-god-sex-and-war">Death Letter</a>. I plan to read it.<br /><br data-mce-bogus="1" />Mojoeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541458916641472505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939571.post-72338284675781196892015-01-07T19:35:00.001-08:002015-01-10T06:34:35.888-08:00Salman Rushdie: ‘I Stand With Charlie Hebdo, as We All Must’Salman Rushdie, a personal hero, expressed my thoughts at the Paris office of Charlie Hebdo today when he said,”I stand with Charlie Hebdo, as We All Must…” His <a data-mce-href="http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2015/01/07/salman-rushdie-i-stand-with-charlie-hebdo-as-we-all-must/" href="http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2015/01/07/salman-rushdie-i-stand-with-charlie-hebdo-as-we-all-must/">full statement</a> is shown below:<br /><blockquote><i>“Religion, a mediaeval form of unreason, when combined with modern weaponry becomes a real threat to our freedoms. This religious totalitarianism has caused a deadly mutation in the heart of Islam and we see the tragic consequences in Paris today. I stand with Charlie Hebdo, as we all must, to defend the art of satire, which has always been a force for liberty and against tyranny, dishonesty and stupidity. ‘Respect for religion’ has become a code phrase meaning ‘fear of religion.’ Religions, like all other ideas, deserve criticism, satire, and, yes, our fearless disrespect.” –Salman Rushdie</i><br /><i><br data-mce-bogus="1" /></i></blockquote>I fear no religion. Fuck you Islam.<i>&nbsp;</i>Pictures tell a more powerful story than my simple words:<br /><img data-mce-style="margin-top: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 5px; max-height: none; max-width: 100%;" data-position="3" height="339" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nTMqfiXksMk/VK368D_VVJI/AAAAAAABCws/pc0tceChDl8/I/56CAB037-C596-41E5-90B3-8752D702171B.png" style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 5px; max-height: none; max-width: 100%;" width="510" /><br />Via <a data-mce-href="http://www.reddit.com/tb/2rn9n3" href="http://www.reddit.com/tb/2rn9n3">Reddit</a><br /><img data-mce-style="margin-top: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 5px; max-height: none; max-width: 100%;" data-position="3" height="342" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jF0-CW9vtGg/VK369DdJQ6I/AAAAAAABCww/02slMH3a6VQ/I/A25A68D7-3246-4F0A-A7B6-337B51B4740B.png" style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 5px; max-height: none; max-width: 100%;" width="513" /><br />From Paris, via <a data-mce-href="http://www.reddit.com/tb/2ro5ve" href="http://www.reddit.com/tb/2ro5ve">Reddit</a>.<br /><img data-mce-style="margin-top: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 5px; max-height: none; max-width: 100%;" data-position="3" height="527" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/--ROJxg6Kbro/VK369xG5qbI/AAAAAAABCw8/qBwQcxK9T4E/I/DA93AC98-84F1-4FAC-B023-DF80A9E698D9.png" style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 5px; max-height: none; max-width: 100%;" width="527" /><br />Via Cyprien on <a data-mce-href="https://twitter.com/MonsieurDream/status/552831150134415360" href="https://twitter.com/MonsieurDream/status/552831150134415360">Twitter</a><br /><img data-mce-style="margin-top: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 5px; max-height: none; max-width: 100%;" data-position="3" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cjcatfUmsHo/VK36-io3cpI/AAAAAAABCxE/W7oPdsrbpww/I/6534BFE6-7582-4470-AC89-14F4D7F56D76.png" style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 5px; max-height: none; max-width: 100%;" /><br />Via J.K. Rowling on <a data-mce-href="https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/552919946926493696/photo/1" href="https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/552919946926493696/photo/1">Twitter</a>.<br /><img data-mce-style="margin-top: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 5px; max-height: none; max-width: 100%;" data-position="3" height="278" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-cA9OOnXDvaQ/VK36_ePFsxI/AAAAAAABCxM/3_8WJjdXrEU/I/74FFF7DD-D097-4CC8-9D70-0075E793D87B.png" style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 5px; max-height: none; max-width: 100%;" width="494" /><br />Via Banksy on <a data-mce-href="http://mashable.com/2015/01/07/banksy-instagram-paris-tribute/" href="http://mashable.com/2015/01/07/banksy-instagram-paris-tribute/">Instagram</a>&nbsp;- this gives me hope.<br /><br data-mce-bogus="1" />Mojoeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541458916641472505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939571.post-20186210880242566762015-01-06T21:28:00.001-08:002015-01-06T21:29:02.004-08:00Two pastors, two arrestsWhile reading the headlines today, I noticed two new names pop up under the category “Pastor Arrested” in my Google news filter.<br />Pastor James Worley of Powell Valley Church in Oregon, <a data-mce-href="http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2015/01/fired-oregon-cop-turned-evangelical-pastor-charged-with-dozens-of-sex-crimes-against-kids/" href="http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2015/01/fired-oregon-cop-turned-evangelical-pastor-charged-with-dozens-of-sex-crimes-against-kids/">was arrested</a> on 37 sex crime charges.<br /><blockquote><i>…including two counts of rape, 20 counts of sexual abuse, 11 counts of sodomy, one count of attempted sodomy and three counts of using a child in a display of sexually explicit conduct.</i></blockquote>Pastor Thomas Wilson of Smithville Baptist Church in New York, <a data-mce-href="http://www.wwnytv.com/news/local/Man-Arrested-On-Sexual-Abuse-Charge-287562521.html" href="http://www.wwnytv.com/news/local/Man-Arrested-On-Sexual-Abuse-Charge-287562521.html">was arrested</a> on a charge of sexually assaulting a young girl.<br /><blockquote><i>Wilson is accused of having sexual contact with a nine year old girl in the village of Sackets Harbor during the spring or summer of 2008…”&nbsp;</i></blockquote>I only opened one email. I am afraid to read any more.<br /><i><br data-mce-bogus="1" /></i>Mojoeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541458916641472505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939571.post-79198560909609419072015-01-05T20:32:00.001-08:002015-01-05T20:37:24.024-08:00Pastor Richard Yeamans arrested&nbsp;<img class="left" data-mce-style="float: left; margin: 5px;" data-position="0" height="200" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1fQHN_3qC7E/VKtlY434ifI/AAAAAAABCwc/2ZkVqslcvls/I/AEFE9590-D1E6-4C39-A7BF-8943C8DE5C27.png" style="float: left; margin: 5px;" width="149" />Pastor Richard Yearns of &nbsp;<a href="http://www.spotsylvania.va.us/" target="_blank">Spotsylvania,&nbsp;VA</a>,&nbsp;<a data-mce-href="http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/local/virginia/2015/01/05/va-youth-pastor-arrested-for-sexually-assaulting-2/21315453/" href="http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/local/virginia/2015/01/05/va-youth-pastor-arrested-for-sexually-assaulting-2/21315453/">was arrested</a> for sexually abusing 2 boys ages 11 and 12. The abuse allegedly occurred while Yeamans was the youth pastor at <a data-mce-href="http://www.fairviewatriverclub.org/" href="http://www.fairviewatriverclub.org/">Riverclub Church</a> off Tidewater Trail.<br /><br />See this face? Does it look like somebody who can abuse children? No? That’s because anybody is capable of this type of abuse. A pastor is just a man (or woman). There is nothing special about being a pastor. Anybody can be one. Anyone…<br /><br />How well do you know your pastor or your youth pastor? Why give another person unsupervised access to your child? Why take the risk that the nice man telling bible stories to your children is not only taking advantage of young minds but young bodies as well?<br /><br />Hypocrisy. Deal with it.<br /><div class="image-size mceNonEditable" contenteditable="false" data-mce-bogus="true" data-mce-style="display: none; -webkit-transform: translateZ(0); top: 62px; left: 10px;" data-size="157x210" id="plate" style="-webkit-transform: translateZ(0px); display: none; left: 10px; top: 62px;"></div>Mojoeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541458916641472505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939571.post-27182410315997669212015-01-05T20:17:00.001-08:002015-01-05T20:18:49.694-08:00Discovering a new atheistI enjoy discovering people who doing something interesting and are also Atheists. Someone who writes fiction and is also an atheist, or an accomplished athlete who is also atheist. I think it helps the cause and frankly, I’m tired of people&nbsp;who are atheists for atheist sake. <br /><br data-mce-bogus="1" />I found a new (to me anyway) person today.&nbsp;While&nbsp;listening to Brett Mckay’s The <a data-mce-href="http://www.artofmanliness.com/" href="http://www.artofmanliness.com/">Art of Manliness</a>&nbsp;podcast #95 on my drive home. Brett interviewed <a data-mce-href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Koppelman" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Koppelman">Brian Koppleman</a> who wrote, among others, the screenplays for Rounders, Knockabout Guys, and Ocean’s Thirteen. While discussing a <a data-mce-href="http://paperartstudio.tripod.com/artistsway/id3.html" href="http://paperartstudio.tripod.com/artistsway/id3.html">writing technique called morning&nbsp;pages</a>, Brian tries to write three longhand pages each morning. His disclosure&nbsp;came out naturally and suddenly.&nbsp;Referring July Cameron’s <a data-mce-href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Artists-Way-Julia-Cameron/dp/1585421464" href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Artists-Way-Julia-Cameron/dp/1585421464">the Artists Way</a>, he said, "<i>The book has a lot to do with spiritually. I’m an atheist.</i>” &nbsp;(37:20)<br /><br data-mce-bogus="1" />His Wikipedia page also shows that he is an atheist.<br /><br data-mce-bogus="1" />Brian Kopplemen has a podcast called <a data-mce-href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/moment-brian-koppelman/id814550071?mt=2" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/moment-brian-koppelman/id814550071?mt=2">The Moment</a> on <a data-mce-href="http://grantland.com/" href="http://grantland.com/">Grantland.com</a><br /><br data-mce-bogus="1" /><br data-mce-bogus="1" /><br data-mce-bogus="1" />Mojoeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541458916641472505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939571.post-16408095353197582312014-11-29T12:18:00.001-08:002014-11-29T12:18:50.280-08:00Um... what Jena Malone?<p>I follow photography. It's my thing. It's a lifelong hobby that brings me joy and happiness. I also follow religion and belief too. It brings me less joy and happiness, but it tends to make me think and that is okay. Sometimes photography and religion mix. Like <a href="http://www.laweekly.com/publicspectacle/2014/11/25/jena-malone-turns-30-feels-the-galloping-of-a-horse-and-births-her-first-photo-show">this story</a> about actress <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jena_Malone">Jena Malone</a>.</p><blockquote><p><em>On Friday, Jena Malone turned 30, debuted her first solo photography show and celebrated the release of her latest film, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay (Part 1), which went on to have the biggest opening weekend of any movie this year (though she only appears for a few seconds). All three pivotal events make up what she calls a "crazy triangle" influenced by Saturn Return, or the life-changing astrological transition that she says she's been in the thick of for the past two years.</em></p><p>(via <a href="http://www.laweekly.com/publicspectacle/2014/11/25/jena-malone-turns-30-feels-the-galloping-of-a-horse-and-births-her-first-photo-show">LAWeekly</a>)</p></blockquote><p><em>"crazy triangle" influenced by Saturn Return, or the life-changing astrological transition... </em>Wait, what? Everything was moving along well until we took a turn towards astrology, and then the story went south.</p><p>I was originally attracted to the story because of the images. I was curious. What would the young photographer Jena Malone produce? I hoped for interesting and got what looks like photos that my mom would take while on vacation. Her show is a vanity showcase of little substance, but her life looks worse. Astrology, triangls seeds… It all feeds my thinking that successful actors are just people with access to more of everything than the rest of us. They are people with all the same kookie hangups, shallow thinking and limitations as the rest of us. Why do we treat them special? Why do we idolize them? Why do we treat a woman whose experience in photography is limited to studying photography at a Jr. college as if her snapshots of Burma are special?</p>Mojoeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541458916641472505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939571.post-71124416343462491192014-11-29T11:53:00.001-08:002014-11-29T11:53:54.149-08:00My gospel is like chemotherapy<p>I find myself asking a lot of questions these day. One that comes to mind often is, what is the real role of a pastor? With all the negative media coverage these days, I have ample evidence of what a pastor’s role should not be. I have precious little exposure to what a pastor's role should be. I need to fix that. If I am to highlight problems in religion, I think balance is required.</p><p>I can find nothing redeeming in the words of Pastor Earl Carter.</p><blockquote><p><em>“I don’t hate gays, I’m just like the doctor who hates disease, I fight the disease,” Carter added. “My gospel is like chemotherapy. We try to get to the disease. And the police fighting crime, what are we fighting? Or are we making concessions for these sins?”</em></p><p>(via <a href="http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/11/watch-anti-gay-pastors-pro-stoning-rant-im-going-terrorize-this-country-in-the-name-of-the-lord/#.VHkiBONT3Tg.facebook">RawStory</a>)</p></blockquote><p>The words, “My gospel is like Chemotherapy” stand out. Chemotherapy is a horrible analogy and brings to mind suffering and pain. Pastor Earl Carter is saying that it is his job to bring suffering and pain to LGBT people. Does that sound anything like the message of Jesus? </p>Mojoeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541458916641472505noreply@blogger.com0